Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Characterization of Poorly-Crystalline Ferric Arsenate Precipitated from Equimolar Fe(III)-As(V) Solutions in the pH Range 2 to 8

  • Published:
Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The neutralization of equimolar (0.1 M) Fe(III)-As(V) acidic sulfate or nitrate solutions at 22 °C (295 K) over the pH range 2 to 8 yielded a predominantly poorly-crystalline ferric arsenate that resembles its scorodite precursor: FeAsO4 · (2 + x)H2O (where 0 < x < 1). The X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) pattern of it consists of two broad peaks similar to those of two-line ferrihydrite, but clearly different. In addition to ferric arsenate, a small fraction of two-line ferrihydrite was found to be present in the precipitate, increasing in significance with the pH, from around 5 pct at pH 2 to 4 to around 30 pct at pH 8. A field emission gun–transmission electron microscope (FEG-TEM) analysis and a collection of X-ray chemical maps revealed a nanocrystalline structure that is relatively chemically homogeneous in the acidic domain (a constant iron-to-arsenic ratio at 0.98) but becomes progressively disordered and nonuniform at the high pH end. An aqueous phase arsenic concentration was found to increase with the pH and to vary at a fixed pH with the type of solution (SO4 vs NO3) and initial arsenic concentration used. Such variation in solubility appears to be linked to nanodomain structural differences.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. Such elevated arsenic concentrations are commonly encountered in industrial hydrometallurgical solutions.[11,12]

  2. JEOL is a trademark of Japan Electron Optics Ltd., Tokyo.

References

  1. P.A. Riveros, J.E. Dutrizac, P. Spencer: Can. Metall. Q., 2001, vol. 40, pp. 395–420

    Google Scholar 

  2. M.T. Emett and G.H. Khoe: EPD Congr. 1994, G. Warren, ed., TMS, Warrendale, PA, 1993, pp. 153–66

  3. R.G. Robins, P.L.M. Wong, T. Nishimura, G.H. Khoe, and J.C.Y. Huang: EPD Congr. 1992, J.P. Hager, ed., TMS, Warrendale, PA, 1992, pp. 31–39

  4. P.M. Swash, A.J. Monhemius: in Effluent Treatment in the Mining Industry, S.H. Castro, F. Vergara, M.A. Sanchez, eds., Andros Ltd., Chile, 1998, pp. 119–61

    Google Scholar 

  5. D.M. Shermana, S. Randall: Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 2003, vol. 67, pp. 4223–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. G.A. Waychunas, B.A Rea, C.C. Fuller, J.A. Davis: Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 1993, vol. 57, pp. 2251–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. A. Manceau: Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 1995, vol. 59, pp. 3647–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. G.A. Waychunas, C.C. Fuller, B.A. Rea, J.A Davis: Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 1996, vol. 60, pp. 1765–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. G.A. Waychunas, J.A. Davis, C.C. Fuller: Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 1995, vol. 59, pp. 3655–61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. S. Fendorf, M.J. Eick, P. Grossl, D.L. Sparks: Environ. Sci. Technol., 1997, vol. 31, pp. 315–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. D. Langmuir, J. Mahoney, J. Rowson: Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 2006, vol. 70, pp. 2942–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. B.J. Moldovan, M.J. Hendry: Environ. Sci. Technol., 2005, vol. 39, pp. 4913–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Y. Jia, G.P. Demopoulos, N. Chen, J.N. Cutler, and D.T. Jiang: in Hydrometallurgy 2003, C.A. Young, A.M. Alfantazi, C.G. Anderson, D.B. Dreisinger, G.B. Harris, and A. James, eds., TMS, Warrendale, PA, 2003, vol. 2, pp. 1923–35

  14. Y. Jia, G.P. Demopoulos, N. Chen, J.N. Cutler: in Arsenic Metallurgy, R.G. Reddy, V. Ramachandran, eds., TMS, Warrendale, PA, 2005, pp. 137–48

    Google Scholar 

  15. N. Chen, D.T. Jiang, J. Cutler, T. Kotzer, Y. Jia, G.P. Demopoulos, and J.W. Rowson: Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, submitted for publication

  16. Y. Jia, L. Xu, Z. Fang, G.P. Demopoulos: Environ. Sci. Technol., 2006, vol. 40, pp. 3248–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. L. Carlson, J.M. Bigham, U. Schwertmann, A. Kyek, F. Wagner: Environ. Sci. Technol., 2002, vol. 36, pp. 1712–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. K. Tozawa, Y. Umetsu, T. Nishimura: 107th AIME Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, TMS Paper Selection A, 1978, pp. 1–23

  19. R.G. Robins: Am. Mineral., 1987, vol. 72, pp. 842–44

    Google Scholar 

  20. E. Krause, V.A. Ettel: Hydrometallurgy, 1989, vol. 22, pp. 311–37

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. R.G. Robins: EPD Congress 1990, D.R. Gaskell, ed., TMS, Warrendale, PA, 1990, pp. 93–104

  22. T. Nishimura, Y. Umetsu: in Minor Elements, C.A Young, ed., SME, Littleton, CO, 2000, pp. 105–12

    Google Scholar 

  23. J.F Le Berre, R. Gauvin, and G.P. Demopoulos: Coll. Surf., A, in press

  24. R.M. Cornell, U. Schwertmann: VCH Verlagsgesellschaft, VCH Publishers, New York, NY, 1996

    Google Scholar 

  25. Y. Jia, G.P. Demopoulos: Environ. Sci. Technol., 2005, vol. 39, pp. 9523–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. J.F Le Berre, T.C. Cheng, R. Gauvin, G.P. Demopoulos: Metall. Mater. Trans. B., 2007, vol. 38B, pp. 159–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. J.I. Goldstein, D.B. Williams, G. Cliff: in Principles of Analytical Electron Microscopy, D.C. Joy, A.D. Romig Jr., J.I. Goldstein, eds., Plenum Press, New York, NY, 1986, pp. 155–217

    Google Scholar 

  28. K. Kitahama, R. Kiriyama, Y. Bala: Acta Crystallogr., 1975, vol. B31, pp. 322–24

    Google Scholar 

  29. M. Scrépel, F. d’Yvoire, H. Guérin: Bull. Soc. Chim. Fr., 1974, vols. 7–8, pp. 1207–10

    Google Scholar 

  30. F. d’Yvoire, M. Scrépel: Bull. Soc. Chim. Fr., 1974, vol. 7–8, pp. 1211–14

    Google Scholar 

  31. D.R. Peacor, P.J. Dunn: Am. Mineral., 1986, vol. 71, p. 230

    Google Scholar 

  32. J. Majzlan, A. Navrotsky, U. Schwertmann: Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 2004, vol. 68, pp. 1049–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. C.F. Baes Jr., R.E. Mesmer: The Hydrolysis of Cations, R.E. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, FL, 1986

    Google Scholar 

  34. S. Singhania, Q. Wang, D. Filippou, G.P. Demopoulos: Metall. Mater. Trans. B, 2006, vol. 37B, pp. 189–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. D. Paktunc, J.E. Dutrizac: Can. Mineral., 2003, vol. 41, pp. 905–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. R.A. Eggleton, R.W. Fitzpatrick: Clays Clay Miner., 1988, vol. 36, pp. 111–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. J. Subrt, V. Stengl, M. Skokanek: Thermochim. Acta, 1992, vol. 211, pp. 107–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. D.G. Rancourt, D. Fortin, T. Pichler, P.J. Thibault, G. Lamarch, R.V. Morris, P.H.J Mercier: Am. Mineral., 2001, vol. 86, pp. 834–51

    Google Scholar 

  39. D.E. Janney, J.M. Cowley, P.R. Buseck: Am. Mineral., 2000, vol. 85, pp. 1180–87

    Google Scholar 

  40. S.K. Gupta: J. Appl. Cryst., 1998, vol. 31, pp. 474–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. J.W. Gibbs: Trans. Conn. Acad., III, 1875, pp. 108–248; reprinted in The Scientific Papers of J. Willard Gibbs, Ph.D., LL.D., Volume I: Thermodynamics, Ox Bow Press, Woodbridge, CT, 1993, pp. 55–371

  42. G.P. Demopoulos: Hydrometallurgy, in press

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Dr. Stéphanie Somot for the production of two-line ferrihydrite and arsenate-adsorbed ferrihydrite samples and to the Montreal Network for Microscopy Imaging for the use of the FEG-TEM at Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal. Funding for this research was received through a NSERC Strategic Project grant. The research was sponsored by Areva Resources, Barrick Gold Corporation, Cameco Corporation, Hatch, Ltd., and Teck Cominco.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mining and Materials Engineering, McGill University, H3A 2B2, Montreal, PQ, Canada

    J.F. Le Berre (Postdoctoral Student), R. Gauvin (Professor) & G.P. Demopoulos (Professor)

Authors
  1. J.F. Le Berre
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. Gauvin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. G.P. Demopoulos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to G.P. Demopoulos.

Additional information

Manuscript submitted December 22, 2006.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Le Berre, J., Gauvin, R. & Demopoulos, G. Characterization of Poorly-Crystalline Ferric Arsenate Precipitated from Equimolar Fe(III)-As(V) Solutions in the pH Range 2 to 8. Metall Mater Trans B 38, 751–762 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11663-007-9081-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11663-007-9081-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation